392
Trace Elements in Abiotic and Biotic Environments
The Pu levels, to which most people are exposed, are very low and of little health
consequence. Levels of all anthropogenic radionuclides (including 238 Pu and 239,240 Pu)
in beverages available to the public in the United Kingdom were below the limits of
detection (MAFF 1997a vide ATSDR 2010b). Also 20 Emmental cheese samples
collected from six EU regions contained these radionuclides below the detection
limit (ATSDR 2010b).
The content of 239,240 Pu in daily diet samples, collected from the hospital in
Białystok, Poland (during March 1987 to May 1992), was investigated. The estimated annual intake of Pu was 0.774 Bq/yr (20.9 pCi/yr), in the first year after the
accident at Chernobyl, and after six years, the daily intake was 0.088 Bq/yr (2.4 pCi/yr)
(Pietrzak-Flis and Orzechowska 1993).